Research

  • AIMIC Study: Healthy Control Participants

    Study of musculoskeletal symptoms, gut microbiome, diet and aromatase inhibitors

    We are recruiting healthy control participants for a research study aimed at understanding the role of the gut microbiome (e.g., bacteria, fungi, and other microbes living in the human gastrointestinal tract) in protecting against and/or predisposing musculoskeletal symptoms (e.g., joint pain or stiffness, bone pain) in breast cancer survivors receiving aromatase inhibitors. This study is approved by the UConn Health IRB (IRB#: 22-193S-1). If you meet the eligibility criteria, please reach out to us to schedule an appointment.

    Who is eligible?

    • Females; ages 45-79 years
    • No history of cancer
    • No diagnosed chronic gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, etc.
    • No diagnosed chronic inflammatory diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, type I diabetes, etc.
    • No diagnosis of chronic pain disorders, including but not limited to arthritis, fibromyalgia, temporomandibular disorder, etc.
    • No antibiotics within the past 2 weeks
    • Willing to participate in a one-time, 2-hour session, which involves completing questionnaires about pain, diet, and physical activity as well as providing saliva and at home stool samples (either in-person or remote participation is available)
    • Able to speak and read English

    All participants will receive a $100 gift card upon completion of the study.

    This study involves a single two-hour session that can be completed remotely. Participants who prefer an in-person visit may also complete the session at the UConn School of Nursing Biobehavioral Lab on either the Storrs or Farmington campus (free parking is available at both locations).

    If you are interested, please complete the link: https://uchredcap.uchc.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=8YCJALJAJCL8RTK8

    You may learn more on study site at AIMIC Study | Biobehavioral Research Lab | Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing | University of Connecticut

    For more information, contact: the study PI (GeeSu Yang) at yanglab@uconn.edu (Tel: 860-341-1778)